Lincoln’s Inn information afternoon

On Wednesday 11 March ten law students and their minder (me) went to the Lincoln’s Inn information afternoon followed by dinner. As usual the information provided was interesting and informative. Bottom line: you are very unlikely to get a pupillage (the equivalent of a solicitor’s training contract) unless you have applied for and been granted a scholarship. To get a scholarship you have to be an excellent student i.e. predicted a high 1:1 or a first class honours degree and have plenty of experience – marshalling of judges, mini-pupillages, mooting for example. Students were advised NOT to apply and pay for the Bar Professional Training Course unless they had secured a scholarship or pupillage in advance. Scary stuff.
Then the fun part – a reception followed by dinner. This year it was even more special as HRH the Duke of York, a patron of the Inn, was dining and two Brighton students, Komal Joshi and Charlie Rason were very close to him on the top table. They knew in advance (as did I) about the guest of honour and being selected to sit at the top table but other Brighton students also were introduced to him as he mingled with everyone at the reception before dinner.
A productive and entertaining evening.